Borderline (BPD)
Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is one of 10 types of personality disorders. It is characterized by an instability of emotions, self-image, and relationships, as well as impulsive actions that can potentially be self-damaging. These individuals typically see the world and their interpersonal relationships as all good or all bad, and their views can swing rapidly from one extreme to the other.
Suffering from BPD increases the risk of suicide. As many as 10% of people with this condition will die by taking their own life. That’s 50 times the national average. For this reason, it is absolutely critical to seek treatment if you or a loved one exhibits signs of borderline personality disorder.
Although the exact cause of BPD is unknown, we do know that it tends to emerge in adolescence and early adulthood and may have a combination of genetic and environmental causes, such as childhood abuse and trauma.
Borderline personality disorder is associated with a wide variety of symptoms, including:
- A distorted sense of self and chronic feelings of emptiness
- Extreme and inappropriate emotional reactions
- Intense fear of abandonment and rejection
- Unstable relationships
- Recurrent suicidal threats, gestures, and behaviors
- Self-mutilation
- Extreme mood swings
- Abnormally impulsive behavior, such as substance abuse, unsafe driving, unprotected sex, and overspending
- Hostility, episodes of rage, and lack of empathy for others
- Intense anxiety, worry, and depression
- Dissociative (“out of body”) feelings
- Paranoid thoughts (often related to stress)
People with BPD frequently have co-occurring mental health disorders, such as:
- Bipolar disorder (present in as many as 20% of those with BPD)
- Depression
- Anxiety
- PTSD
- Eating disorders, such as bulimia nervosa
- Addictions
BPD Brains Work Differently
Borderline personality is a brain disorder. While some may find it easy to label people as bad, willful, uncaring, or even possessed, brain imaging completely changes the way we think about mental health problems. We know the brain is the organ of personality, so if someone has an unstable personality, their brain may be the cause. People with BPD may have abnormal activity in areas of the brain that regulate emotion and fear. Recent research also suggests that hormonal imbalances, immune system issues, and chronic infections (such as Lyme disease) may be associated with symptoms of BPD.
Get a Personalized Treatment Plan
We believe in taking a unique brain-body approach to treatment that involves the least toxic, most effective strategies. Although BPD is considered a chronic condition, it is possible to minimize and manage symptoms. After receiving appropriate treatment for their symptoms, nearly 50% of people diagnosed with the disorder will no longer meet the criteria for the diagnosis just 2 years later.
Don’t suffer from the symptoms of Borderline Personality Disorder Anymore
If you or someone you love is suffering with symptoms of borderline personality disorder, don’t wait to seek professional help. Talk to a specialist today to learn more or to make an appointment at a location near you.